The Great Yoga Pants Test

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Transcript of The Great Yoga Pants Test

The Great Yoga Pants TestWe reviewed seven popular brands of exercise pants over the course of two years to determine which brand is truly the best bang for the buck.Brand: Alo Purchase price (approximate): $72 at Nordstrom Sheerness at purchase time: None Cantaloupe factor (how flattering to your body): Average. No lift, but no squish. Must have natural assets. Age (approximate): 18 months Pilling (1-10, where 10 is unacceptable to wear during Happy Baby pose): 10 Discoloration (1-10): 3 Sheerness at current age: None Verdict: Although I appreciate Alo’s eco-friendly fabrics and practices, the crotchal pilling is not public-appropriate. One of the worst offenders.

Brand: C9 by Champion Price: $35 at Target Sheerness at purchase: None Cantaloupe factor: Supportive and sleek. Nice on the thighs. Age: 18 months Pilling: 1 Discoloration: 2 Sheerness at current age: None Verdict: The best quality for the best price. However, there are no free alterations or exchanges after wear and wash if they don’t work.

Brand: Lululemon Price: $98 at the Lululemon store on the Twenty Ninth Street Mall Sheerness at purchase time: None Cantaloupe factor: Perfect, glorious cantaloupe. Lifts and cups. Waistband minimizes muffin top. Age: 2 years Pilling: 9-9.5 Discoloration: 7 Sheerness at current age: Minor, in the right light Verdict: Although you can get free alterations, the wear of this line — even with its special washing instructions (hang-dried, washed separately) — simply does not justify its highest price point.

Brand: Athleta Price: $64 at Athleta store on Pearl Street Mall Sheerness at purchase time: None Cantaloupe factor: Ripe. Whereas Lulu is the Mercedes eye-candyof yoga pants, Athleta is the Honda. It’s not for showing off; it’s for actual function. Age: 2 years Pilling: 0 Discoloration: 4 Sheerness at current age: None Verdict: The best higher-end yoga wear option. Although these are about twice the price of Champions, you can exchange them after wearing and washing them, even if you just don’t like how they feel, and alterations are free. Also: dryer safe. These are low-maintenance pants that can last for years.

Brand: Old Navy Price: $15 Sheerness at purchase time: Minor in the right light Cantaloupe factor: Neutral. You don’t buy these for the look. Age: 2 years Pilling: 7 Discoloration: 8 Sheerness at current age: Significant; need to retire this pair Verdict: You get what you pay for. You will need to replace these regularly. Brand: Exhilaration by Target Price: $9 Sheerness at purchase time: None Cantaloupe factor: Rotten cantaloupe. Not exhilarating. Age: 2 years Pilling: 8 Discoloration: 5 Sheerness at current age: None Verdict: These were the cheapest, which showed in the pilling, although they’re not sheer. An OK alternative if you’re on a budget, but you’d be better off saving for a pair of Champions that you can wear for years.

Brand: Prana from the Prana store on the Pearl Street Mall Price: $75 Sheerness at purchase time: None Cantaloupe factor: Neutral. Age: 2 years (although I’ve stopped wearing them) Pilling: 10 Discoloration: 7 Sheerness at current age: None Verdict: Although I dig Prana’s free yoga classes, I don’t know what happened here; these are going in the trash can immediately. For $75, these are straight busted.

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